The Drowning Predicament
I'm sure that I'm not alone in not liking the Dragonbane rules for drowning. Many RPGs have this problem, and I thought I would present my solution to the problem.
I was designing a new adventure for Dragonbane, and in it there are many chances for one or more of the PCs to drown. But reading up on the rules for drowning, I was disappointed. I have always thought it was silly that a drowning person loses HP.
The Rules State: Underwater, you need to make a successful roll against CON each round to hold your breath (not an action). If the roll fails you begin to drown, taking D6 damage per round until someone rescues you. If you reach zero HP while drowning, you make death rolls as usual, but only failed rolls count.
I understand that the rule is supposed to be simple, but I think it should also be somewhat realistic. Drowning is not like being stabbed in the back. Here is my alternative to the drowning rules.
House Rule: Underwater, you need to make a successful roll against CON each round to hold your breath (not an action). If the roll fails, you begin to drown and must make a roll against SWIMMING. If the roll succeeds, you swim to the surface, if possible, and can breathe. If the roll fails, you continue to drown and someone must rescue you. While drowning, you make death rolls as usual, but only failed rolls count.
This simple change makes it possible for the PC to save themselves and removes that pesky rule of losing HP. This is an improvement to the rules that I think most players will find satisfactory. It’s quick and easy to understand.
What do you think about this house rule?
Amarath
Finally, the follow-up adventure from Robin Fjärem, creator of Shadow over Gloomshire, is now live on Kickstarter. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fjärem during Game Congress 25, and though our meeting was short, he is a terrific fellow. Now he needs our support, and I don’t think we want to miss Amarath. Cover art by Anton Vitus. This will be a blast!
As a former Lifeguard and Lifeguard-Trainer I feel obligated to point out that, while drowning is complicated situation and never exactly the same twice, the main thing that precipitates it is panic. Not being able to breathe is terrifying in any context. Once panic sets in the ability to self-rescue is (except for blind luck) completely gone. The determining factor is not how long you can hold your breath, but how long you can keep your cool. I'm not sure how you might simulate that within the Dragonbane Rules. I don't recall any game system that accounted for it. I don't think CON is the applicable attribute, though. Maybe Willpower. Anyway, having said that, its a game and its fiction and you want a rule that gets you through without bogging the game down too much. Your house rule works as well as any I've seen.
Speaking as someone who has almost drowned before, drowning is an ever changing situation. You will feel like you lost HP due to the constant exertion of trying to swim to stay alive and lack of oxygen each time you can’t breathe will cause physical issues. I like that your house rule as has the opportunity to save yourself. I think it should still include the opportunity for losing HP but the original rule of every round doesn’t make sense and the amount seems harsh.
How does this sound?
Underwater, you need to make a successful roll against CON each round to hold your breath (not an action). If the roll fails, you begin to drown and must make a roll against SWIMMING. If the roll succeeds, you swim to the surface, if possible, and can breathe. If the roll fails, you take [D2 or D4?] damage that round, and continue to drown; You must continue to make this role against swimming every round until you succeed or someone rescues you. If you reach zero HP while drowning, you make death rolls as usual, but only failed rolls count.
I’m new to playing RPGs so I don’t know how well that rule would work in the game, it seems like a more realistic scenario to me. I like that is gives a continued penalty if you can’t breathe and the opportunity to keep trying to save yourself.